10 Things You May Not Know about the Lamborghini Aventador

Cars like the Lamborghini Aventador give more information than we know what to do with. The notes I took after a run to 172 mph on Nardo’s road course, for example, took up pages. And while I spent the weekend recovering from that acceleration blast (and many others like it), I started remembering other interesting bits of information that didn’t make my Aventador first test story.

Back, and to the leftTake a close look at the engine bay. Notice how the “X” formed by the cross brace looks off center? That’s no illusion. The engineers purposely offset the V-12 slightly to the left to counter balance the weight of the driveshaft.

Autobots, roll out! The Aventador’s wing has three positions to change to depending on driving conditions. It stays flat against the body below 50 mph, but lifts to 4 degrees once you accelerate beyond that point. Once it’s up, it will stay at that 4-degree position until speeds fall below 37 mph. Once you exceed 81 mph, the wing reaches its greatest angle, 11 degrees, which looks nifty in the rear view but provides authorities with a telltale sign that you’re speeding.Keeping coolLike the wing, a vent above each quarter panel can deploy if any of the following conditions are met: Speed exceeds 99 mph, oil temperature reaches 230 degrees, or ambient temperature exceeds 95 degrees.You know what they say about a car with a wide footprint…It barely fits on roads. Along with a height that’s lower than a Porsche Boxster, the Aventador is 79.9 inches wide, not including its side view mirrors. That is just 0.1-inch shy of our long-term Chevy Silverado 2500 HD. Now, the California Department of Transportation allows a max width of 102 inches for commercial vehicles. That’s fine, right? Well, then you have to consider that the Aventador has to fit in car transporters.Want one? You’ll have to waitThe current waitlist for an Aventador is 18 months. The bottleneck, according to Lamborghini, isn’t the process of creating the carbon-fiber tub, but with other parts suppliers.Oh yeah, you’ll also need a boatload of moneyNever mind the $393,695 starting price, the average net worth of an Aventador customer is $10 million.Fuel efficiency? In my Lamborghini? Not only is the Aventador the most powerful V-12 Lamborghini ever, it’s the most fuel-efficient. Who cares? We do. This 6.5-liter V-12 (internally coded L539) makes 691 horsepower while returning 11/17 mpg city/highway. Improving fuel economy, even by a combined 2 mpg over the Murcielago, while generating more power is truly an impressive feat.In plain sightIf you look close enough at some of the interior controls, you might recognize them from other Volkswagen/Audi products. Big giveaways include the Audi MMI-based infotainment system and the audio controls on the steering wheel. They’re mostly well disguised and don’t distract from that all-important feeling that the Aventador is something special. Instead, they just work.Future techThe Aventador’s LCD gauge cluster uses thin film transistor construction, making it clear and easy to read during quick glances at high speed. Being digital, it can change to show different information. The driver can give priority to either the tachometer or the speedometer at the push of a button on the stalk. And when you turn the car off, the screen goes black like a computer monitor.And yes, it will do 217 mph‘Nuff said.

Well I guess the official name is the Mp4-12c but if you did speak to the designer I could see mclaren people calling it just the "12c". Probably the same with lambos. I doubt everybody working at lamborghini says the full name of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trefeo Stradale, same with the Superleggera model. The comparison test would be interesting. 1/4 mile and 1/4 mile speed should be about identical. "12c".....probably rides better and is more useable everyday b/c of the smaller size but the aventador looks more exciting and is louder, so would really come down to personal preference and which one gave you more goosebumps or made the hair stand up more on your back.

Also, under heavy acceleration, blue flames can be seen coming out of the exhaust. Don't believe me? Watch this past Sunday's episode of Top Gear were they had an Aventador, MP4-12C, and a Noble M600 competing in a series of challenges.

What the hell? Did Connor's comment really warrant this rant? Maybe the F1 was technically an MP4 or whatever, I don't know and don't care. However, you sir are WRONG!!! Visit Mclaren's website, the car's Official name is MP4-12C.

just a little tid bit of info: It's pronouced '12c' not 'Mp4-12c'. Mp4 stands for the generation of Mclaren cars, even the Mclaren F1 is technically the 'mp4-f1'. 12 is a number (out of a scale of 10) which Mclaren got by entering their car's performance into a special algorithm that quantifies how much better it is compared to the next leading competition in its class. C stands for carbon. ;) (had a chance to speak to the designer)
and YES bring on a comparison test!